Scott Donoghue

Specialist Aged Care Financial Adviser

Helping families navigate aged care with clarity and compassion

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When a Loved One Needs Residential Care

The decision to move a parent or partner into permanent residential aged care is one of life's most challenging transitions. The financial implications can feel overwhelming — costs reaching hundreds of thousands of dollars, confusing Centrelink or DVA paperwork, urgent timeframes, and family members who may not agree on the best path forward.

I help Australian families make sense of it all.

Scott Donoghue - Specialist Aged Care Financial Adviser

What Makes My Practice Different

I'm the only aged care financial adviser in Australia who brings together three specialist qualifications to serve families during this critical time:

Accredited Aged Care Financial Planning Specialist

  • 30 years' experience advising clients (since 1994)
  • Master's degree in Financial Planning
  • Recognised among Australia's top 50 financial planners
  • STEPS Accredited Aged Care Professional®
  • Full Australian Financial Services Licence to provide comprehensive personal financial advice on all aspects of aged care funding, accommodation payments, means testing, pension optimization, and asset structuring

Qualified Educator

  • Teaching experience covering primary school through to university lecturing in Financial Planning
  • I don't just understand the numbers — I know how to explain complex financial and legislative information in ways that make sense when you're stressed and anxious
  • My teaching background means I can translate confusing aged care rules into clear, practical guidance tailored to your situation

Family Dynamics & Psychology Expertise

  • Executive Masters in Organisational Psychology
  • Specialist training in Family Constellation work
  • I understand the emotional complexities and family tensions that surface when making aged care decisions
  • Personal experience: I've supported my own parents through this journey, so I bring both professional expertise and genuine personal understanding
  • When family members disagree about what's best, I facilitate productive conversations that honor everyone's concerns while finding practical solutions

This unique combination means I can identify what's really worrying you beneath the surface (psychology), calculate the optimal financial strategies within Australia's complex aged care system (financial planning), and then explain my findings in plain language you'll actually understand (teaching).

Understanding Aged Care Costs in Australia

Aged care in Australia involves multiple payment options and ongoing fees. The system is complex and the rules change regularly, which is why professional guidance is essential to navigate your specific situation.

Accommodation Payments

When you enter residential aged care, you'll need to pay for your room. You have three options:

Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD)

A lump sum payment that's fully refundable when you leave the facility (minus any agreed deductions). The RAD is protected by Australian Government guarantee.

Daily Accommodation Payment (DAP)

An ongoing daily payment calculated using the Maximum Permissible Interest Rate (MPIR). Unlike RADs, DAPs are not refundable.

Combination Payment

Part RAD, part DAP—this option gives you flexibility to balance preserving assets with managing daily cash flow.

Ongoing Daily Fees

You'll pay various ongoing fees that cover your care and accommodation. These fees are assessed based on your income and assets as determined by Services Australia (Centrelink or DVA).

The fee structure includes:

  • Basic daily fees (paid by everyone)
  • Means-tested care fees (based on your financial assessment)
  • Additional services fees (optional premium services)

Because these amounts change regularly with indexation and policy updates, I provide current, accurate fee calculations specific to your situation as part of my advice service.

Comprehensive Aged Care Financial Planning Services

Expert guidance through every aspect of aged care financial planning

1

Centrelink or DVA Income & Assets Assessments

I guide you through the detailed Services Australia assessments that determine your aged care fees and government support eligibility.

  • Your means-tested care fee
  • Eligibility for accommodation supplements
  • Age Pension or DVA pension entitlements
  • Low-means resident status (if applicable)
  • How your assets and income are assessed under aged care rules
2

Should You Sell the Family Home?

This is often the most emotional and stressful decision families face. Many people assume they must sell immediately, but you often have better options:

  • Protected Person Rules — Your home may be exempt from asset testing if certain people live there
  • Two-Year Exemption Period – Even without a protected person, your home may be exempt for up to two years
  • Rental Income Strategies — Keeping and renting your home can sometimes provide better long-term outcomes
  • Tax & Estate Planning Implications — The timing of a home sale has significant capital gains tax and estate planning consequences

I model all scenarios specific to your situation, showing you the financial impact of each option over 5+ years.

3

Maximising Centrelink or DVA Benefits & Minimising Aged Care Costs

Strategic financial planning can often:

  • Increase your Age Pension or DVA pension entitlements by thousands annually
  • Reduce your means-tested care fees
  • Optimize the timing of asset sales and restructuring
  • Identify exempt assets and protected person opportunities
  • Structure RAD and DAP payments to preserve wealth while funding care
4

Cash Flow Planning

Sustainable cash flow is the foundation of successfully funding aged care. I create detailed projections showing:

  • How to fund accommodation payments (RAD/DAP)
  • Meeting ongoing daily fees and means-tested care fees
  • Maintaining quality of life and funding "extras" that enhance daily living
  • 5-year forward cash flow modeling
  • Strategies using personal savings, investments, superannuation, or rental income
5

Estate Planning Integration

Your aged care decisions impact what you leave behind for your beneficiaries. I model:

  • Future asset values under different scenarios
  • Intergenerational wealth transfer strategies
  • Tax-effective asset structuring
  • Protecting your legacy while ensuring quality care now
6

Complete Paperwork Support

I handle all the complex documentation:

  • Services Australia income and asset assessment forms (Centrelink or DVA)
  • Aged care facility admission paperwork
  • Pension variation forms
  • Coordination with aged care facilities and government agencies

Making the entire process efficient, accurate, and stress-free.

Why Professional Aged Care Financial Advice Matters

The stakes are high. With aged care costs that can exceed several hundred dollars per day in ongoing fees, plus accommodation payments potentially reaching hundreds of thousands of dollars, the financial decisions you make in the first few weeks have lasting impacts.

Costly Mistakes Families Make Without Professional Advice

Selling the family home too soon without understanding exemption periods—losing tens of thousands

Paying higher fees than necessary due to poor asset structuring

Missing Centrelink or DVA entitlements worth thousands of dollars annually

Making irreversible decisions without understanding tax and estate planning implications

Family conflicts escalating without a neutral professional to facilitate discussions

Every single one of these mistakes is preventable with proper financial advice.

Unlike Services Australia's free Financial Information Service (FIS) — which provides general information only and cannot give personal recommendations — I provide comprehensive, licensed financial advice in writing tailored specifically to your family's situation.

How We Work Together: My Process

A clear, structured approach to help you navigate aged care with confidence

Free Initial Consultation

We discuss your situation, confirm your needs, and determine if we're the right fit. No obligation, no pressure.

1

Clear Fee Agreement

I explain exactly what advice you need and provide a transparent fixed-fee quote before we begin. You'll know the total cost upfront.

2

Gathering Your Financial Information

I help you collect all necessary documentation and complete Centrelink or DVA assessments accurately.

3

Strategy Development & Analysis

I analyze your complete financial situation, model multiple scenarios, and develop tailored strategies to optimize your outcomes.

4

Written Financial Advice Delivered

You receive comprehensive, easy-to-understand written recommendations — delivered promptly to meet your timeframe.

5

Implementation Support

I support you through implementation, answer questions as they arise, and provide ongoing guidance throughout the transition.

6

For Financial Planners, Accountants & Solicitors

Specialist Referral Partnership

I welcome referrals from financial planners, accountants, and solicitors throughout Australia. Here's why partnering makes sense:

I focus exclusively on aged care financial advice

This is all I do — I've developed deep expertise in this specialized niche.

I won't compete for your ongoing clients

Once the aged care transition is complete, clients return to you for their ongoing wealth management, tax advice, estate planning, or legal services.

Professional collaboration

I work alongside you to ensure seamless, coordinated service for your clients when they need specialist help.

Protect client relationships

Your clients will appreciate that you connected them with an accredited specialist during a critical time — it strengthens your relationship, not weakens it.

Complement Your Service Offering

For Financial Planners

Provide your clients with specialist aged care expertise without needing to build this capability in-house or dedicate the time to master this complex area.

For Accountants

Offer your clients comprehensive aged care financial planning that complements your tax and accounting advice, ensuring optimal outcomes across all aspects of their financial affairs.

For Solicitors

When your clients face aged care decisions during estate planning or power of attorney matters, I provide the financial planning expertise that ensures their legal documents align with optimal aged care strategies.

Think of me as your aged care specialist colleague who handles this complex niche so you can focus on what you do best.

Fixed Fee Service — Transparent Pricing

All services are provided on an agreed fixed-fee basis. You'll know the exact cost upfront before we begin.

No commissions

No ongoing fees

No hidden charges

No surprises

During a stressful time, the last thing you need is uncertainty about what you'll pay. My transparent fee structure is designed to provide exceptional value while remaining accessible to families who need help.

Serving Families Throughout Australia

I provide advice to families across Australia using secure online meetings (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet) or phone consultations if you prefer.

Benefits of virtual advice:

  • Family members in different locations can join meetings together
  • No travel time or costs
  • Documents can be signed electronically for efficiency
  • Flexible scheduling including after-hours appointments
  • Same high-quality, comprehensive service regardless of your location

Connect From Anywhere

Whether you're in Sydney, Perth, Darwin, or regional Tasmania — receive the same expert aged care financial advice without leaving your home.

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Teams
Meet

Why Act Now?

Aged care transitions often happen urgently — sometimes within weeks of a health crisis or hospital discharge. The sooner you seek professional advice:

The more options remain available to you
The less stress and confusion you'll experience
The better financial outcomes you can achieve
The more time you have to get family members aligned

Professional aged care financial advice typically pays for itself many times over through optimized fee structures, maximized Centrelink or DVA benefits, and strategic asset positioning.

Common Questions Families Ask

Get answers to the most frequently asked questions about aged care financial planning

Take the Next Step

Don't let confusion and stress prevent you from making the best decisions for your family.

Book Your Free Consultation Today

During this no-obligation conversation, we'll:

Understand your situation and concerns
Clarify what advice you need
Explain how I can help
Provide a clear, upfront fee quote

Confusion becomes clarity. Anxiety becomes confidence. Uncertainty becomes a clear path forward.

Contact Scott Donoghue

Get in Touch

Address

86 Hampden Road
Battery Point TAS 7004

Service Area

Serving families throughout Australia

Request a Free Consultation